TEMPE, Ariz., Sept. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- US Airways today
announced plans to hire more than 350 new pilots with training dates beginning
in November 2007. The airline will also move 140 pilots, who currently fly for
US Airways Express carriers, back to the mainline flying seats they were
furloughed from several years ago. The airline's pilot staffing needs are
being driven primarily by retiring mainline pilots. New hire pilots will move
onto the airline's growing Embraer 190 fleet, which in turn will drive current
pilots to other aircraft like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 family.

President Scott Kirby stated, "It was only two short years ago that both
the former US Airways' and America West's futures were in the air. To stand
strong two years later and announce that not only will we no longer have any
pilots on furlough, but also will begin to hire new pilots is simply great
news for our employees and our airline. Our pilots are among the most
experienced and professional in our industry, and we look forward to welcoming
our returning pilots from our Express partners as well as new pilots to our
airline."

Positions will be filled over the next 12 to 16 months. The airline's
Philadelphia base is home to Embraer 190 flying. Candidates can find
qualifications and apply on-line at www.usairways.com/careers or by clicking
the Careers link online at www.usairways.com.

Quoting DashTrash (Reply 1):We'll see what really happens after the PDT/PSA flowthrough is worked out

None of those guys are leaving for November training dates. Neither one has enough pilots as it is now, allowing the pilots to flow right away would kill both of the wholly owned regionals. Then again, maybe they can start classes once they all time out for the year, that should be in late November or early December.

Quoting SPREE34 (Reply 3):Will they be hired as West or East? I would assume the flow through and furloughed are under the East contract.

Should be East for everyone. As you mentioned flow and furlough were under East contract and I would imagine that they would want new hires off the street on the East side to increase their chances of getting to a single contract.

Quoting Silentbob (Reply 2):None of those guys are leaving for November training dates. Neither one has enough pilots as it is now, allowing the pilots to flow right away would kill both of the wholly owned regionals. Then again, maybe they can start classes once they all time out for the year, that should be in late November or early December.

True but if they bid it and are held back they then should be getting E-190/A320 Jet pay for the time they are held back to either fly the DASH or CRJ's.

There will no doubt be some kind of metering set up as not to kill off PDT or PSA. Truth be told, attrition will probably kill both if no flow through is set up. No one wants to fly for a regional with a six year upgrade. We're having trouble putting pilots in class as it is. A flow through would solve that problem overnight.

Six year upgrade might be a thing of the past, though. US mainline will have a big appetite for new blood. They are so senior that the attrition will become major. So PSA and Piedmont might be good places to work going forward.

I'm overly familiar with the news that came out yesterday about preferential interviews.

The actual flow through is being discussed between AAA, AWA, PDT, and PSA. It is something entirely different than what came out yesterday, and with a little more negotiation, will be what is adhered to. Like I said, I'm sure there will be some metering of pilots flowing to mainline when all is said and done, but numbers have not been discussed yet. I'm hoping that it will be more than 11 a month at the peak. It should be regardless of what the wholly owned management's opinion is. They've had several years to prepare for it, so it should be no surprise.